Eastside Weekend: River yoga; Highland Park art shows; & more

Plenty going on this weekend at Avenue 50 Studio in Highland Park. There’s the opening of Gregg Stone’s “Living on the Edge”, a series of paintings capturing photo realistic portraits and vivid characters, “El Cuentista” from artist Wayne Healy and a preview of the 22nd Annual Discovery Tour from the Arroyo Arts Collective. Saturday, November 8.

The monthly Bluebird Reading series provides an intimate space for local poets and those who are in love with words. Jen Marshall Lagedrost, J.r. Phillips, David Shook and Jervey Tervalon will be the featured readers this time around. Plus there is an open mic for those who can muster the courage. Sunday, November 9.

J.R. Phillips

Romance your tastebuds with a trip to the EastSide Food Festival. A bevvy of local restaurants will be serving up special menu items, covering a wide array of appetizers, entrees and desserts. Yes, it takes place in Silver Lake, which many don’t consider part of the Eastside. But pair the tastings with a restauranteur panel, raffles, book signings and you’ll forgive that. Sunday, November 9.

The power of testimony comes to the street. The North East L.A. Alliance hopes to spark a conversation on displaced communities through music and spoken word. York Boulevard has changed drastically in the last few years and this procession intends to start at The Parklet on York and march down to Figueroa Street. Saturday, November 8.

The reclamation of the Los Angeles River has been an exciting development. There are so many different groups showing their appreciation to the tranquil side of things. Yoga Riot is outdoors exercise, breathing, stretching in tune with nature. Don’t ask what you can do for the river, but ask what can the river do for you? Saturday, November 8.

Nathan Solis is a Highland Park resident who writes about and photographs the L.A. music scene. You can find more of Solis’ stories, reviews and photos atAvenue Meander.

11 comments

Many L.A. folks, especially on the east side, have a very loose definition of “art.” I respect art too much to consider some trashy inked out face as anything more than a display of arrested development posing as art. Maybe it qualifies as “craft”, albeit misdirected.

Jessica, I took your advice and reviewed Gregg Stone’s exhibit. My mind hasn’t changed. As a square, I find images of criminals offensive. I suppose if Mr. Stone photographed and drew images of them in prison I’d think differently. Perhaps his next exhibit should be of grieving children who lost their mother to these guttersnipes, but no, that’s for the squares.

Well the tatted folks don’t usually have the cash to spend on tattoo removal. That’s because they’ve spent their money on hmm, tattoos and drugs and drink and not spending time and money on preparing for adulthood. The one good thing about Obamacare is that it doesn’t include tattoo removal paid for by everyone other than the tatted person. Hopefully that remains the law, but considering how things are going that might change.

I think a face tattoo pretty much relegates a person to a short order cook, and jobs of that level. I work in the corporate world, and I wouldn’t have him in my company, except maybe in the shipping department. It’s sad to see grown ups marking their faces and bodies resulting in lifetime negative consequences. It’s not art, it’s not deep, it’s just a silent scream to be noticed. Most people will notice, but then immediately turn away in pity and disgust.

Former president Clinton gave a financial literacy talk today here to a huge audience. The man in that photograph probably should have gone, because no one should spend his money on stuff like that tattoo.

But where do you get off on calling Mr. Face Tattoo an artist?? Where is his art? If you can find it, would it qualify as art? By you, by me, by general consensus that it is anything more than the application of art supplies? Never has there been a time in this town where 1000s of people are calling themselves “artists” when they are not. That term is now used to mean “I’m unemployable, but intend to do something good and creative soon.”

That jig is up. This town is so full of bullshit artists posing as artists. That you and so many others don’t see that is ashame.

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